The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a surprising decision. The impact player rule, which started in the tournament, has now been removed. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 will not have the impact player rule. This domestic T20 tournament will take place from November 23 to December 15. However, the impact player rule will remain in the IPL. The BCCI had implemented this rule in the IPL after testing it in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
According to a report from Cricbuzz, the BCCI informed state associations about the decision to remove the impact player rule on Monday evening. The BCCI stated in a brief message, “Please note that the impact player will not be applicable in the current season.” The impact player rule allows teams to use 12 players in a match. According to the rule, both teams must provide a list of 5 substitute players in addition to their playing XI. One player from the substitute list can then come on as the impact player.
Last month, the IPL governing council decided to continue the impact player rule for the 2025 season. This rule was introduced during IPL 2023, and opinions on it have been divided. Many experts believe that the impact player has reduced the importance of all-rounders. Even star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not in favour of the impact player rule.
Although the impact player rule has been removed from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the two bouncers rule will still apply. This rule allows bowlers to bowl two bouncers in one over. This rule is included in both SMAT and the IPL. The BCCI’s rule for T20 matches allowing two bouncers per over is new, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) permits only one bouncer per over.